Running head: ESSAY 5 1

ESSAY 5

Name:

School Affiliation:
ESSAY 5 2

1. What drives R&D compared to what should?

R&D is driven by use of direct policies by governments and funding. It is also driven by

decisions of member states of organizations such as the EU. The goal is to intensify R&D

activities by ensuring that there are increased investments and technological developments. It is

all done in order to reduce competition posed by entities outside the region. R&D should,

however, be adopted as a business strategic management process. It should not be used as a

response mechanism but as a mode of operation in anticipation of any changes (Falk, 2006).

2. Who makes the decisions about what to develop? Who should? Should every problem be

solved? Is every end (development) okay.

Since it is used to ensure that entities remain relevant tin the market and that there is the

future growth, the companys management makes decision about what to develop at the

company level. It is the company management that should make these decisions even though

regional entities and the governments may push the agenda. Every problem needs resolution as it

poses challenges to the institutions. A good example is the production of fake and cheap products

from other countries which would affect both companies and the governments. The regional

economic bloc and entities may be challenged to use R&D as a means of countering this problem

by producing cheaper products with higher quality. The call to do this would be on the

corporations management but the governments would probably support this via subsidies.

However, it is noteworthy that not every end may be okay for the reason that the ultimate

product may not meet expectations.

3. Is every means (method) to an end okay (even when the end is okay); do the ends justify
ESSAY 5 3

the means? Is there anything we shouldnt develop to solve a problem? Assuming we

should develop something, are there any methods, materials, inputs, or other domain

elements that shouldnt be used?

Every means to an end is not okay. There are certain processes which may be harmful in

order to reach a particular end. Take for example brain research, scientists normally use

primates. These animals end up suffering as a result of experiments carried out on them. There

have been opinions by entities such as the National Institute of Health stating that scientific

research should not be done on primates, especially chimpanzees they resemble human beings

more than other primates. The end, therefore, does not justify the means in some circumstances.

However, it is noteworthy that there are certain problems which posit themselves in a manner

that leads to the use of crude means in order to get particular outcomes. As noted by Gluck, there

are certain methods that should not be used, especially methods that can be harmful or materials

that can harm thereof (Gluck, 2016).

4. Give an example each:

a. Something (thing, device, apparatus, material, technology) that has been developed that

should have been

A thing that has been developed that should have been is a cell phone. Before the advent

of the cell phone, it was impossible to communicate flexibly. However, cell phones which have

now evolved to smart phones can be used at any place. They have enabled easier and quick

communication as compared to other phones such as telephones which are not portable and are

bulky. Modern phones such as smart phones not only help in communication but also help in the

access to the internet where communication occurs too. A person does not have to travel back
ESSAY 5 4

home to access his emails or social media to get messages. It can all be done through a cell

phone.

b. Something that has been developed that should not have been

Nuclear weapons should not have been developed due to their devastating effects when

used. They deform both humans and the habitat, in addition to causing incurable maladies such

as cancer.

5. Give an example each:

a. Something that is being researched for development that should be developed

Atomic fingerprinting technology is being developed by scientists to mark genuine

products with atomic finger prints. This should be developed in order to prevent the spread of

black market and contraband goods.

b. Something that is being researched for development that should not be

Something that is being researched and which should not is cloning of human beings.

This is due to the reason that cloning will complicate human life.
ESSAY 5 5

References

Falk, M. (2006). What drives business Research and Development. Applied Economics, 2006,
38, 533547
Gluck, J. P. (2016, September 04). Second Thoughts of an Animal Researcher. Retrieved
October 20, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/opinion/sunday/second-
thoughts-of-an-animal-researcher.html